Like this:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

—Genesis 1:26

Strolling slowly on the boardwalk, I noticed several dragonflies darting around near the water’s surface.

That seems too difficult for us to imagine, yet He is holding all the stars in the universe in place, He is keeping all the cells in our bodies alive, and He has formed and created each individual thing on earth.

A magnificent flower, blooming in mathematical perfection draws itself upward to the sun as the earth follows a path around it prescribed by God Himself.

Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind–livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened.

When I look at an animal’s face, I see the face of a living being that God made.

I consciously thought of enjoying the time, taking in the reality of the moments I was being blessed with.

The sunlight was still falling on the trees in the orange grove beside my house, giving them a warm glow as they nestled in the thick green grass that had succumbed to the shadows.

Turning around, I noticed the flowering Crepe Myrtle trees in my yard, towering high with bundles of color.

A dog barked in the distance.

Gopher turtles had dug holes in the ground to shelter themselves in many places I walked.

The pink, fluffy clouds to the south looked like a lovely painting.

If I had decorated a room especially for someone, I wonder how I would feel if they entered it, but failed to notice or appreciate the decorations?

Day after day, God creates unspeakable beauty in our surroundings.

He gives it especially to us, to appreciate and enjoy.

Instead of hurrying through the hours and moments I am given, failing to notice and appreciate the creative works of His hands, I should take the time to enjoy what He has prepared with a thankful and grateful heart.

*Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Not necessarily the poison ones, just regular frogs that hop around harmlessly and make croaking sounds at night.

Also, I have personally witnessed people becoming really upset when they see a roach.

There are others who are afraid of mice, spiders or snakes.

So, what about me?

Bees and wasps……

I am only afraid of them if they start coming around me in an aggressive sort of way.

I am fine with them sitting on a flower or buzzing by a bush.

Even though I am afraid of them, I realize their beauty.

Dragonflies don’t bother me at all.

That’s a good thing, because there are a great many populating the skies where I live.

I think they are beautiful, as well.

In the book of 1 Timothy, chapter 4, we find this statement:

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

This statement, in context, is about certain foods that were available and the abstaining of them by some people.

When I think about the first part of the scripture, though, I feel it applies to all God’s creation—everything God created is good.

When all things are restored and sin is no more, there will be not be fear of anything God has made.

Not frogs.

Not roaches.

Not mice.

Not spiders.

Not snakes.

Not even bees, wasps or dragonflies.

We will marvel and wonder at the beauty of everything that God has created, knowing that they are good.

*

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.